This past weekend I had a chance to hang out in Main Street gym in Middletown and watch some of the top young players in the area compete against each other in the M-Town Allstars Tournament.... Just as I thought, I would not be disappointed as there were many players I've seen before but also a few young players who just popped up on the scene.....
The Pony division was dominated by two teams, Steelton Allstars and Rutherford Stars.... These two teams ended up seeing each other in the championships in a nail bitter as Rutherford won the game by 2 points... This game featured some of the top 4th and 5th graders in the area.... One of the best match ups for the day that I saw was 5th grader Duece Erb outta Steelton against 4th grade sensation Chance Westry from Rutherford.... These two youngsters play the game way beyond their years.... Duece has incredible court vision and attacks the basket as well as anyone I've seen in that age bracket... He can defend just as good too.... Chance makes the game look very easy.... He can go right and left equally well and this kid can flat out score the ball... He reminds me of a young Jamaal Crawford with his explosiveness off the dribble...
Both teams had lots of help as Steelton had one of the quickest 4th grade pg's around in Tyrek "Ty Ty" Warren... This kid and his on the ball defense is relentless.... Steelton also had a big man in the middle who was unstoppable until he fouled out off the game.... His ability to offensive rebound and finish was the best I've seen from him in the past 12 months...
Now the championship game was most definitely the best game of the tourney for the Midget division as Steelton gave DS all they could handle.... After that 40 point beating, Steelton had to regroup and look at themselves in the mirror... Coaches Doc, Eddie and Tee had these youngsters much more focused and prepared for the pressure....
The Pony division was dominated by two teams, Steelton Allstars and Rutherford Stars.... These two teams ended up seeing each other in the championships in a nail bitter as Rutherford won the game by 2 points... This game featured some of the top 4th and 5th graders in the area.... One of the best match ups for the day that I saw was 5th grader Duece Erb outta Steelton against 4th grade sensation Chance Westry from Rutherford.... These two youngsters play the game way beyond their years.... Duece has incredible court vision and attacks the basket as well as anyone I've seen in that age bracket... He can defend just as good too.... Chance makes the game look very easy.... He can go right and left equally well and this kid can flat out score the ball... He reminds me of a young Jamaal Crawford with his explosiveness off the dribble...
Both teams had lots of help as Steelton had one of the quickest 4th grade pg's around in Tyrek "Ty Ty" Warren... This kid and his on the ball defense is relentless.... Steelton also had a big man in the middle who was unstoppable until he fouled out off the game.... His ability to offensive rebound and finish was the best I've seen from him in the past 12 months...
Rutherford had a lights out shooter named Keenan Roberts Jr. and Coach Ronyay Lee knew exactly how to get him open shots... This was a nice group of players but those two stood out the most in that championship game.... The game went down to the wire and the young guys on Rutherford showed that they had what it takes to win another close game.... They truely believe in what Coach Lee is doing and it shows.....
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| Coach Ronyay Lee and his Rutherford Squad #1-Emmerson Minnich. #3-Keenan Roberts Jr., #5-Marques Smith-Reid, #7-Amir Jackson, #8 Chance Westry, #9-Ronyay Lee Jr., #10-Jaimer Butler, #33-Johnny Dunlap |
The Midget division had a few decent teams put together... There was a Hard2Guard team led by 5th grader Davon Lee, son of Harrisburg Cougar girls Coach Dwan Lee.... This kid is like a left handed Jason Kidd with a pull up jumper... His IQ is extremely high, which is normal for the son of a coach.... Chambersburg had a team as well as Linglestown.... but the two teams that clearly stood out was Steelton Allstars and Don Smith Allstars (Middletown)....
Steelton had one loss going into the championships while Don Smith's was undefeated.... DS literally whipped on every team in the tourny by 30 or more points and even beat Steelton by a score of 48 - 8 in the first meeting.... Their intensity level was unmatched and they ran their offense to a science.... They were led by small but steady guard Tre Leach and sharp shooter Ryan Hughes on the perimeter... The inside play of Brady Fox was just too much for everyone to handle....
Now the championship game was most definitely the best game of the tourney for the Midget division as Steelton gave DS all they could handle.... After that 40 point beating, Steelton had to regroup and look at themselves in the mirror... Coaches Doc, Eddie and Tee had these youngsters much more focused and prepared for the pressure....
They switched up the ball handling duties from lead guard Casey Caruso to Tiara Little and Donovin Medina which helped to free Caruso up for more shot attempts.... That plus a triangle and two defense helped to slow the explosive DS backcourt down a little bit.... Steelton put Medina on Leach and Little on Hughes.... DS was still able to get guys like Brady Fox (14pts, 12rebs) the ball as he was tough to handle in that paint....
Hats off to Tiara Little (11pts, 5assist, 2steals) for the way she stepped up and handled the press for Steelton... She was the only girl on the court but showed that she belonged... Her change of direction and court vision was crucial in helping Steelton get easy buckets as well as helping Caruso (4 threes 12 pts, 3 assist) get a few open threes.... Medina (2 pts, 2 assist,2 steals) played outstanding defense on Tre Leach and at times seemed to have him frustrated... Leach is one of the best guards in the class of 2018 and I think he's the engine for that group of kids... Fine young player he is...
Leach didn't score as much as usual but his leadership helped DS to maintain the lead.... Off guard Ryan Hughes (15pts, 4 rebounds) made a couple of clutch baskets from beyond the arc to help stretch the lead as Steelton brought what was once a 16 point game, down to 6pts in the fourth quarter....
The biggest difference in this game was the fact the the trio of biggs for Steelton, Tyreese Smith (6pts, 8rebs 2blks), Dorien Dixon, and Ishmael Garfield were all in foul trouble most of the game.... Which also led to Don Smith's shooting 39 free throws to Steelton's 12...... Steelton had to use smaller guys like versatile off guard Jai Burney (one of the best passers around) as a power forward or Jaki Cobb.... Steelton also got some good minutes from Nyquan Taylor and Errick Dickey as Taylor did a good job attacking the hoop and Dickey played excellent defense on the perimeter.... Tyreese Smith, who is one of the top 6th graders around, could never get into a groove due to foul trouble... Once he understands how to adjust his game based on the way it's being officiated, he will be extremely hard to defend or score on.... Dorien Dixon is only in his first year of playing basketball and as a 7th grader, he's already 5'11 and wears a size 14 shoe..... The kid is getting better and better by the week....
Although that Steelton team ended up losing the game 56- 44, they were more respected that game compared to the first meeting....
Good game to all of the teams involved and I can't wait to get into a few more gyms to see what's out there in the Central PA area....
Coach Little
Hats off to Tiara Little (11pts, 5assist, 2steals) for the way she stepped up and handled the press for Steelton... She was the only girl on the court but showed that she belonged... Her change of direction and court vision was crucial in helping Steelton get easy buckets as well as helping Caruso (4 threes 12 pts, 3 assist) get a few open threes.... Medina (2 pts, 2 assist,2 steals) played outstanding defense on Tre Leach and at times seemed to have him frustrated... Leach is one of the best guards in the class of 2018 and I think he's the engine for that group of kids... Fine young player he is...
Leach didn't score as much as usual but his leadership helped DS to maintain the lead.... Off guard Ryan Hughes (15pts, 4 rebounds) made a couple of clutch baskets from beyond the arc to help stretch the lead as Steelton brought what was once a 16 point game, down to 6pts in the fourth quarter....
The biggest difference in this game was the fact the the trio of biggs for Steelton, Tyreese Smith (6pts, 8rebs 2blks), Dorien Dixon, and Ishmael Garfield were all in foul trouble most of the game.... Which also led to Don Smith's shooting 39 free throws to Steelton's 12...... Steelton had to use smaller guys like versatile off guard Jai Burney (one of the best passers around) as a power forward or Jaki Cobb.... Steelton also got some good minutes from Nyquan Taylor and Errick Dickey as Taylor did a good job attacking the hoop and Dickey played excellent defense on the perimeter.... Tyreese Smith, who is one of the top 6th graders around, could never get into a groove due to foul trouble... Once he understands how to adjust his game based on the way it's being officiated, he will be extremely hard to defend or score on.... Dorien Dixon is only in his first year of playing basketball and as a 7th grader, he's already 5'11 and wears a size 14 shoe..... The kid is getting better and better by the week....
Although that Steelton team ended up losing the game 56- 44, they were more respected that game compared to the first meeting....
Good game to all of the teams involved and I can't wait to get into a few more gyms to see what's out there in the Central PA area....
Coach Little
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